Roughly 65% of the 142 commenters on The Slog’s plan for putting pressure on Tesco (for its obviously misleading pack-size price guidance instore) were in favour of taking things to the next stage.

Of those against further action, the main rationales were:

1. Tesco is too big to be affected

2. Tesco is too small a target to change the culture

3. Other supermarkets are just as bad

4. The Slog is a middle-class tosser

5. This is all part of natural free-market economics, and a jolly good thing.

We all have our opinions and our reasons for holding them, so let’s accept that and move on.

The final title to this action is ‘STOP TESCO’S PRICE TRICKS’

I will immediately effect the following:

a. A new dedicated section on the Home page devoted to complaints against Tesco’s abuse of the terms ‘offer’ and ‘value’.

b. Informing the site Tescopoly about what we’re up to, and asking for help in any way they feel fit.

What I’m asking all of YOU to do from 9 am tomorrow is:

i. Send the email to Tesco Customer Services as previously laid out:

‘We, the concerned citizens of the UK, hereby announce our intention of pointing out every example we find in your stores of dishonestly misleading prices, in particular the heinous practice of deliberately pointing customers at poor-value alternatives between small and large pack sizes.

‘We shall report these instances to local MPs, the DIIS&R, local TSOs, consumer watchdogs, the BBC, and any other medium available until you stop doing it.’

ii. On receipt of the standard robotic reply, I would ask you to send this message to your local MP:

‘I sent this worried message to Tesco today, and got this pathetic reply. What are you going to do about it?’

iii. Tweet this page link to everyone following you on Twitter, and also to all your Facebook friends, asking them to do the same if they are so inclined. Let’s get this trending on Twitter.

iv. Send appropriate links or comment thread on any sites you know that would be sympathetic to this campaign.

Let’s review Wednesday am what the effect has been, and take it from there.

And by the way: ignore the cynical detractors. As I’ve said before, cynicism is the new naivety: it is exactly what these corporates want you to think – that the situation is hopeless, and you must obey. That’s complete bollocks, and they know it. What we need to do is call their bluff.

Guess one has to buy one of each to see if they at least taste alike. And I’ve had to buy the different sizes of washing detergent to see how they compare in the wash. People think I’m frightfully stupid. Can’t see why. :)

@ACB
our local Plus has Dutch butter at around €1,25 for 250g (= GBP ??? What is the rate now that the euro is nose-diving!?) nor is this the cheapest, just good ordinary stuff. Organic (Bio) butter is €1,50. I can check these prices tomorrow if you are really interested.

John,
To maximise the trending possibilities on twitter a designated time scale of when to tweet might be a good idea. Oh and you will need to drop the ‘ from #ShopTescosPriceTricks ! I would also put another hash of #Tesco into the tweet to sweep up their cult followers!

I’m in.
As a side, when we get through with Tesco, can we do a “Blue Badge” abuse theme next?
Walk down from the station in Brighton (if you can!) and next to every take away food shop is parked their 4X4/Porshe et al displaying a blue badge. They are not disabled, not one member of their family is disabled, they probably don’t know anybody disabled!
Sorry, pet hate of mine…

KFC, I second that strongly. Actually had a blazing row with the guy that parks his porshe in the same spot every day with a blue badge in the lanes but has zero disability. He just owns the jewellers down there

John what a wonder you are. Am I permitted to plagiarize most of this and use it here in NZ where exactly the same type of practices go on. My pet hate here is when they have a product on special, and another product similar right next to it. Its even worse in Australia.

I don’t think so. I’ve campaigned for five years against the building of a Tesco in my local Suffolk town (successfully thus far but they keep coming) and, apparently unlike you John, I haven’t shopped at Tesco in that time. So don’t call me a troll when I point out that you’re unlikely to achieve much in a couple of days. Leave the accusations of troll-dom to the Guardian where it truly belongs.

Another scam Tesco (and the rest) pull is a shelf full of an offer except for the one/two items smack in the middle at eye level, that aren’t on offer and we are supposed to know this because the signage does not sit under those 1/2 items.

Same things happen here all the time in most of the cut (?)price stores.The parent of the (?) stores are mostly ok,but the (?) stores are franchised selling the same products as the parent,including no name items.”It’s all merchandizing” dealing with not very smart shoppers who can’t wait to get home in front of the tele!!
carry a calculator,know your products watch cash register,any surprises,just say you don’t want it.
Here in Canada the different size packages are my bugbear.The parent stores seem bound to show unit price on the price tag but the franchise don’t.